“I am afraid that that was because of my over-confidence,” admitted the professor, “but I was deceived in him. He had been to the South Seas with me, you know.”
“Well, it can’t be helped now,” declared Jo, philosophically. “The question is, what is the next thing to do?”
“Let us make a reconnoitre down by the harbor, and see what we can find out,” suggested Berwick. “Perhaps we might get an opportunity to capture a prisoner or two that we could hold as a hostage for Jim.”
“That’s a good scheme,” agreed the professor.
“I hope we can get a hold on that villain of a steward,” cried Tom, vindictively.
“Or that imp, Manuel,” added Jo.
“Don’t speak of him,” remonstrated Berwick. “It is like a premonition of evil whenever I hear his name.”
“Come on,” said Tom, picking up his rifle. “The sooner we get there, the better.”
As they journeyed toward the harbor, the professor related to the others the facts concerning his acquaintance with Mr. Jranvin, now the chief of Rarihue. He spoke of his fine character, and recalled his long struggle with adversity because of inherited pulmonary trouble.
“And do you really believe that he knows about the treasure and that it is gone?” asked Tom.